The apple orchard is in full bloom....always a positive sign. Although the orchard is only a few trees now, I hope to add some new varieties and keep the bees busy. The fruit is very tasty and we use the apples in pies, crumbles, for applesauce and for keeping the doctor away. Look for the bowl of polished apples on the front desk in the fall......very crunchy and delicious.

Rain, rain, rain and more rain this past week....sunshine is out now and the weekend should be sunny and bright. Lisa van Bruinessen, Guest Services, snapped this photo on her way to work today. The daffodils look defiant in the dark sky.

Meet the lastest additions to the Resort....your Thanksgiving turkeys. These young turks are under a heat lamp in the barn (hence the red tinge) until they get rid of that baby fuzz. Free range turkeys slated for the menu in the fall.....I wonder if they'll always be this friendly with each other. Just another sight to see when visiting the stables.

Just a few of the many scenes of the day. I don't know if there's a secret wave or not but I got a few.

What a great weekend for the Eastern Ontario Adventure Bike Rally - Friday night was for meeting fellow riders; Saturday after breakfast the group set out for the roads and trails of eastern Ontario - returning after 6:00 pm. The outdoor barbecue offered an opportunity to swap ride experiences and hear about the latest accessories. Brave souls were riding early Sunday before heading home. Kudos to Michael Lobodzinski and Ron McIntyre for fielding questions and route planning. Lets do it againnext year!

Visitor to our dock this evening....the herons are back, flying low over the lake in search of fish for dinner. How cool it is to watch them from your deck.

The adventure rally folks have arrived in full force.....great collection of bikes on site. Tomorrow morning the group will leave for a ride of Eastern Ontario - weather looks good. Have a safe ride. I'm sure the stories at the Saturday evening barbecue will be interesting.

It was a perfect day for tilling the garden and Martina was out there getting ready for planting. The asparagus is plentiful, the tulips are adorning the dining room and the herbs are already being served. Look for heritage tomatoes, fingerling potatoes, peppers, cabbage, onions and more.

If you happen upon the vegetable garden, feel free to weed or talk to the plants (or the gardener).

Shaping up to be a great weekend with weddings, adventure rally bikers and anglers.

What came first....the chicken or the egg?

Every morning I walk up to the chicken coop and greet the girls - they are happy to see me, for the most part, except for Henrietta, a most aggressive layer. She sits on the laying box until I've gathered all the other eggs and then she presents me with a motherlode. Enough for a hearty breakfast! Carrot peelings, anything green and pineapple are favourite treats for my girls. Visit them enroute to the stables......they love chatting with passersby.

Meet our resident Marten - his mission is to keep the black flies and mosquitoes at bay....he's very good at his job. You will notice several marten houses on the resort, working at the bugs, as you walk around.

Dusk is a busy time for the low flyers.....enjoy their labours as you sit on your deck and enjoy the evening.

It's a glorious day on Rice Lake (again) and I spotted my first Jack in the Pulpit (rare). Hunter and I walked over to the golf course and enjoyed the view from the top of the hill. Last night the lake was alive with fireworks.....great show from the south shore. Hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend as much as we did. Get home safe and sound.

Just a reminder to book your cottage for the Romance Weekend June 05-07. There must be some renaissance men out there who fell in love!

Introducing Mr & Mrs Michael Sterpin, who were wed today at the Resort. Michael, our Chef de Cuisine, looked dapper in his tuxedo while his lovely bride Meghan was elegant and beautiful in her vintage gown. It was a picture-perfect wedding....wishing you both a wonderful life together.

New to the entrance porch at the cottages is the addition of an inconspicuous ashtray or butt-mobile. On arrival the housekeepers want you to see the view, not the butts on the ground, so the ashtrays are being tested to see if we can't keep the entrance tidy. The cottages are smoke-free and the decks have a "Puff Pot" for those who haven't yet kicked the habit.

The wind was wicked today...happy to report no one blew away.

Woke to the sound of the airplane taking off in the sunrise....floatplane training has begun. Students and commercial pilots from around the world have taken their float endorsement with us....it's always great to hear a Swissair pilot radio into our base on Rice Lake as they jet across the Atlantic for home. The freedom of flying on floats and landing in remote lakes is an adventure for anyone; it's a dream come true for those who fly the heavies. Peter Loucks has been flying and instructing for over 20 years....the airplane is a part of his being. If you aren't a pilot, take a sightseeing flight and see how magical it is to take-off on water and get a birdseye view of the world.

Docks were rolling in the waves today as the winds blew onshore - the boats were placed on the docks to keep them dry - when the sun finally appeared in late afternoon it was most welcomed by all. The whitecaps, although, interesting, were destructive to the shoreline. Our first concern was for the bass on their spawning beds, near the shore. I'll let you know how that turns out.

Fireworks are ready to go for the May long weekend - Victoria Day - a celebration for the Queen's birthday. This is the first party weekend of summer and many people drive up to their cottages - the highways will be busy with traffic, impatient drivers trying to get the most of the weekend....enjoy a safe holiday.

Congratulations to our own Michael Sterpin, Chef de Cuisine, and his bride Megan, who will be married on the boardwalk Saturday afternoon. We wish them a wonderful life together. I promise wedding photos next week.

Familiar site on the resort these days...the lawn mower in action.

Lots of ground to cover - the runway alone takes most of a day to cut. Any suggestions on the best grass cutting music to add to the playlist? Classical would make the turns easier...rock would help with the cutting around flower beds....let s hear your favourites.

George Henry and friends had a great weekend of walleye fishing on Rice Lake - who could argue with this catch? Well done and thanks for the photo.

Boat and motor rentals are available for the day if you need a getaway......bring the family, start a tradition with a family fishing derby or go out on the lake while Mom goes to the spa, the kids go horseback riding......imagine the tabletalk at dinner after a day of indulgence! Guilt-free way to spend a weekend. See you soon.

Waking up on Rice Lake with the sun reflecting off the water.

Lots of boats on the lake today - the storms of last night have settled and everyone seems eager to be outside.

May 24 weekend getaways still available May 15 - 18 (Victoria Day Weekend). Fishing, horseback riding, biking, canoeing, hiking or just sitting around the fire with friends....come on up and see us!

Eastern Ontario Adventure Bike Rally May 22....have you booked your cottage? Perfect weekend for initiating new bikes.

Romancing the Spring Weekend June 05-07 for lovers and other strangers......ideal Anniversary gift.

Best wishes on your 65th birthday Peter Elmhirst - last seen celebrating with friends and family in the Wild Blue Yonder. Mother MaryBelle served up a delicious birthday cake (how cool is that....she's 90).

It's official - woodpeckers prefer peanuts to bird seed.....caught this morning feed early today.

Happy Mother's Day to all those wonderful moms who do so much for us, and love us despite our flaws. Brunch is sold out but dinner is an option.

Couldn't resist taking a photo of the trilliums on my way to the office this morning. Conference season is under way and it's great to see delegates wandering around the resort when they have a break. Hunter, our German Shorthaired Retriever is a willing guide for any walkers. This weekend is the Round Up at the stables - the annual cattle check-up - it's very exciting to watch.

Peter Elmhirst celebrates his 65th birthday on May 09...let the festivities begin. How lucky little Nadiya (5) is to have her grandfather Peter and her great-grandmother MaryBelle (90) at every family dinner.

Not too late to book your Romantic Getaway Weekend June 05-07

Katie and Majestic are ready for the trails - horseback riding begins this weekend. Helmets are provided and we recommend you wear shoes with heels for your own safety. The views are wonderful and the weather is fine for riding. Come on up to the stables and go trail riding - only $40 for one hour with guide.

The gardens are looking lovely on the Resort - should be in full bloom for Mother's Day.
Herbs and heirloom tomatoes have been planted at each cottage for guest use - harvest them and make good use of the herbs in your salads and sauces.

I'm seeing lots of boats in the lake with panfish anglers - a sure sign of spring.

Meet Buckshot, an orphaned bullcalf on our farm...little guy was a twin and was not found immediately by his mother so she rejected him....we are feeding him three times a day and he is healthy and playful...worth a walk up the barn for a visit. He will soon be joining the herd and I think Albert will miss taking care of him! We've had two sets of twins this spring, unusual, but very cute. When you visit the stables you will see the horses (they love apples and carrots) and the Black Angus cattle....lots of romping calfs at this time of year. Don't forget your camera.

Look up, way up, in the sky.....it's a tree trimming phone junkie. Peter was out in the boom truck yesterday, cutting dead limbs and performing his beloved tree trimming so the new growth has a chance to thrive. While trimming he was taking calls on his cellphone for flying gigs and directions. The birds responded by chirpping louder. The trees on the waterfront needed a trim as the ice pushed up on the shore, damaging some of the limbs.

Wine Club inaugural meeting is set for June 16....if you are interested in participating please call Julia at (705) 295-2159

Check out the Business Section of the Toronto Star on Saturday May 02 for an article featuring Peter Elmhirst and Elmhirst's Resort.

It may be overcast and spitting rain but the fiddleheads, a local delicacy, are thriving in the woodlands on site. The fiddleheads are picked before they unfurl - steamed or fried and served with butter. The timing is so important to the harvesting that the fiddleheads are rare and pricey when found in restaurants. If you see them on a menu...try them.

The maintenance shop is filled with wooden lounge chairs that have been built and assembled over the winter....it was a labour of love, requiring many hours of planing, painting and constructing. Enjoy a quiet moment in a Rice Lake chair (not to be confused with a Muskoka chair) this summer.